Closing the Research Gap
Violence against people with disabilities is a significant public health and human rights issue. Although people with disabilities face disproportionately high rates of victimization, the empirical research on why or how this occurs, as well as prevention and intervention efforts, is limited.
Vera’s Center on Victimization and Safety is working to address this gap by conducting research to identify the magnitude, risk and protective factors, and intervention efforts geared towards victimization of people with disabilities and Deaf people. In doing so, practitioners will have the information necessary to implement evidence-based approaches to program planning, training, networking, technical assistance, and evaluation.
By conducting research in partnership with practitioners, Vera further aims to secure more equal justice for crime victims with disabilities.
Project Objectives
To conduct research that answer fundamental questions about the nature and extent of crimes against people with disabilities and Deaf people, as well as their experiences with victim services and the criminal justice system.
To identify the risk and protective factors associated with victimization against people with disabilities and Deaf people.
To examine the manner in which the criminal justice system and community-based victim service providers respond to crimes against people with disabilities and Deaf people.
Key Fact & Resource
People with disabilities are
3x
more likely to be the victims of violence compared to people without disabilities.